USC MSCS vs UC Davis MSCS

I’ve been admitted to both the programs but can’t decide which one to choose.

  1. Rank: USC is ranked 23 and UCD is ranked 38 according to US news. 18 and 52 respectively according to CS rankings. I understand that’s a huge difference, but does it translate to job opportunities as well?

  2. Cohort: USC is known to have a large cohort, on the other hand UCD is more selective with smaller classes, how much difference does it make when it comes to learning more and getting more value out of the classes?

  3. Cost: USC doesn’t have the option for RA/TA while UCD does, which will help bring down the cost significantly. Although, cost is not that much of an issue for me.

  4. Jobs: USC has a good career fair and help from college for landing a good job, while you’re on your own at UCD. However, everyone says that it’s all about referrals and networking, so how much does the career fair help after all? But on the other hand, USC is famous for a very strong alumni network which significantly helps in getting jobs.

  5. Diversity: I want to have an international experience where I work and study alongside people from various nationalities. USC is kinda famous for having mostly Indians in their CS grad program. Although I think every uni’s CS program will have a similar demographic.

  6. Location: Davis would be a nicer college town, while USC would be in the midst of the hustle bustle at LA, how much does this affect future job prospects. I would love to be in a city like LA, and thus USC might give a better social life?

Would like to hear everyone’s opinions on these points, and add to them if there are any other things I should consider.

Thanks!

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